Student accommodation boom to drive solid surface sector, says Velstone

This article sees Velstone Director Sameer Sawant discuss how the student housing boom will drive the solid surface sector in 2025…

“The unprecedent growth in the UK student accommodation sector is showing no signs of slowing down, driven by record student numbers and increasing international investment. As we look ahead to 2025/26, this expansion presents opportunities for the construction industry, particularly in solid surface specification.

The landscape of student accommodation has transformed dramatically over the past decade. Students typically prefer purpose-built serviced accommodation throughout their studies, creating sustained demand for high-quality facilities.

We’re no longer talking about basic living spaces; students now seek high-quality, well-designed environments and it’s a shift that is reflected in the scale of current developments, including Europe’s tallest student housing project in Canary Wharf in London.

We now have specialist student accommodation developers such as VITA and Chapter, amongst others who fully understand and cater to the needs and expectations of today’s students and parents.  

What’s driving this change?

Despite Brexit-related declines in EU student numbers, there has been an increase in international students from the likes of China, India, and Nigeria. The student market offers highly lucrative investment opportunity for foreign investors to ‘bulk’ buy multiple student units across branded residential sites. With the student numbers ever increasing, so is the demand for these residential units with guaranteed rental income. 

However, construction costs, stricter safety regulations, and increased emphasis on sustainability are creating new challenges for developers and specifiers, and this is where careful material selection becomes crucial.

When specifying solid surfaces for student accommodation projects, three key factors demand attention: availability, longevity, and cost-effectiveness. But these shouldn’t come at the expense of quality or durability. Student accommodation faces intense daily wear and tear, requiring surfaces that can withstand high traffic volume while remaining easy to maintain.

Hygiene is another key consideration. Non-porous, seamless surfaces that prevent bacteria accumulation are essential in shared living spaces and in kitchens and bathrooms.

At Velstone, we’ve positioned ourselves to meet these specific challenges. Not only does Velstone manufacture the material in sheet form, we also offer fully finished, ready to install kitchen and bathroom tops for student accommodation. Our factory-finished solid surfaces can be delivered at scale, ensuring consistent quality across large projects. We offer bespoke thicknesses and various design options, allowing architects and contractors to achieve their desired design while meeting practical requirements.

The student accommodation sector’s evolution from basic housing to premium investment opportunity has raised the bar for material specification. As it continues to get bigger and bigger, choosing the right solid surface partner becomes increasingly critical to project success. With our proven track record in large-scale developments and understanding of sector-specific requirements, we’re well-positioned to support this booming market’s needs.”

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